642 Gunsmithing?

For some reason I can't explain, I NEED a 642 or two. I just have a few concerns...

Are there any good smiths out there that could not only smooth the trigger pull on one of these beasties but lighten it as well? Without screwing up reliability?

The reason I ask is that my Beautiful Bride to Be has spoken of getting her CCW. Of course this is something that I encourage... But she is of very delicate build... I mean very delicate. She has trouble managing the DA pull on her S&W M&P which has a very smooth pull. This leads her to shooting SA almost all the time, something that she would be unable to do with the 642. I try to encourage her to practice dry firing DA, but she always has better things to do... Grad School is like that I guess.

She likes the feel of the 642, as do I, but the trigger pull is too much for her to shoot accurately.

Any suggestions other than hand exercises?

Any suggestions other than hand exercises?
Not really. While some smoothing of the action is possible there just isn't a lot of mechanical leverage to work with. You can change springs and find a reliable load and just stick with that. J-frames have never been known for their triggers.

Thumb over thumb, both index fingers on the trigger, stacked..

E mail me for the name of an excellent armorer. Reference THR in subject.

I sent a Smith 66 out to Pachmyer years ago. They did an excellent job on the trigger!

I would stay local if you could (wasn't an option for me at the time). However, look into them if you want to ship it out.

Trying to lighten a J-frame's double action can be a can of worms. Smoothing the action is one thing, but to truly make it lighter you have to use lighter springs. It can be done, but you're asking for trouble to happen at the wrong time.

I suggest that you look at both Smith & Wesson and Taurus small-frame revolvers that have conventional hammers that can be cocked with a thumb.

B36 also made a good suggestion. Use two fingers. If you really want to get a trigger pull worked over, do the Military & Police model - it offers some possibilities that the J-frame guns don't.

Any suggestions other than hand exercises?

Yup. Just shoot it.

http://www.iowatelecom.net/~hatley/642_2t.jpg

Trigger will smooth out just like every other S&W revolver.

Good Luck...

Joe
i

I just purchased a 642-2 and found it had a very smooth trigger as all of my Smiths seem to come with...have her practice with an unloaded gun, pulling the trigger as fast as she can for say, 50 reps and gradually increasing the numbers as her strength increases.

You can purchase spring kits from Brownells, and by sticking to Federal ammo will likely have no ignition problems- of course, test fire it lots with the intended carry ammo first before you stake you life on it.

Joe Hatley, if you shot that group at 25 yards, with any hanfgun, i am impressed. if you shot it with the 642, i am REALLY IMPRESSED.

my wife has a 642 with Crimson Trace grips and i like it to the point that i want one for myself. no getting her's. it does have advantages over my snubby magnums, excepting power of course.

if any reader does not have a 642, or has not handled and shot one, i recommend you try it out. it is a little dandy.

I put some lighter Wolff springs in mine. That and the do-it-yourself trigger job I did on it greatly smoothed things out. Of course, the danger with lighter springs is that you'll pull the trigger and hear a click instead of a boom.

Since then however, so far so good - I've put well over 1000 rounds through it without a FTF. The true test will come this winter when I leave the gun in my trunk with below zero weather then take it to an outdoor range.

Are there any good smiths out there that could not only smooth the trigger pull on one of these beasties but lighten it as well? Without screwing up reliability?

I guess it's possible, but the 2 Smiths I've had lightened up occasionally have a light primer strike and a failure to fire. Now granted it's always been with cheapo S&B ammo, but it's unnerving for it to not go BANG.

I don't think I'd do it on a carry gun.

Not going BANG! is only part of the problem. You could also get a hang-fire, where the primer doesn't ignite the powder until after a delay. By that time you may have gone on to a second quick shot, and both cartridges will go off at approximately the same time. :what:

Then you will really get a BANG!!! :eek:

Joe Hatley, if you shot that group at 25 yards, with any hanfgun, i am impressed. if you shot it with the 642, i am REALLY IMPRESSED.

No. I wish!! 25 yard target that was shot at 50 feet. IIRC...

Joe

Looks just fine to me at 50 feet! :)

Dryfire exercises will smooth up the action AND increase hand strength. It's a twofer.

Any suggestions other than hand exercises? Sure!
Find one of the wide S&W J-frame target triggers.
Your trigger pull will seem to be lighter, the gun wuill be more controllable and you will have lost absolutely none of the reliability.

The trigger on my 642 was a bit tight, but I started dry firing a bunch and it smoothed out right quick.

Skofnung: You don't need a reason and you don't need to explain--just go buy it (or them).

JoeHatley: mighty, MIGHTY fine shootin'!!

R/fiVe

For overall good health, exercise is fine but for guns? I'd send it to Cylinder and Slide.